Their fighting spirit and technical efficiency has enhanced the reputation of the whole Corps of Royal Engineers. They have earned the thanks of the whole Army for their contributions to the defeat of the enemy. has been on a level with their work on the mines. Their work in the very dangerous task of removing enemy traps and delay-action charges. I don't know about Churchill or the aristocracy in general, but Field Marshall Haig wrote the following message when the Companies were rapidly disbanded after the Armistice to release desperately-needed skilled labour:Ī large number of men are now being withdrawn from the Tunnelling Companies for urgent work at home.īefore they leave the country I wish to convey to the Controllers of Mines and all ranks of the Tunnelling Companies, both Imperial and Overseas, my very keen appreciation of the fine work that has been done by the Tunnelling Companies throughout the last four years.Īt their own special work, Mine Warfare, they have demonstrated their complete superiority over the Germans, and whether in the patient defensive mining, the magnificent success at Messines, or in the preparation for the offensive on the Somme, Arras and Ypres, they have shown the highest qualities both as Military Engineers and fighting troops. This quote gives a tiny snapshot of just one of the horrors faced by men of the Tunnelling Companies as they worked beneath the battlefields of WW1, and gives a hint of why they were held in respect by those who knew what their work entailed. Lieutenant John Westacott, 2 Canadian Tunnelling Company, quoted in Beneath Flanders Fields by Barton, Doyle & Vandewalle It was silent in action - very handy, especially for raiding galleries. It was a specially made knife with a blade about five inches long which was fitted to a brass frame over our hand and strapped to our wrist, so when our fist was closed the knife was at a right angle to our arm. The only thing was to put your hand over quick to feel if the man had any epaulettes the Germans used to have epaulettes on the shoulder and we could tell that way. Sometimes a fight would take place in a tunnel - 4 feet x 3 feet - and in the dark you didn't know who you were fighting. Previous AMAs | Previous Roundtables Featuresįeature posts are posted weekly. May 25th | Panel AMA with /r/AskBibleScholars Please Subscribe to our Google Calendar for Upcoming AMAs and Events To nominate someone else as a Quality Contributor, message the mods. Our flaired users have detailed knowledge of their historical specialty and a proven record of excellent contributions to /r/AskHistorians. Please Read and Understand the Rules Before Contributing. Report Comments That Break Reddiquette or the Subreddit Rules. Serious On-Topic Comments Only: No Jokes, Anecdotes, Clutter, or other Digressions. Provide Primary and Secondary Sources If Asked. Write Original, In-Depth and Comprehensive Answers, Using Good Historical Practices. Questions should be clear and specific in what they ask, and should be able to get detailed answers from historians whose expertise is likely to be in particular times and places. Nothing Less Than 20 Years Old, and Don't Soapbox. Be Nice: No Racism, Bigotry, or Offensive Behavior. Downvote and Report comments that are unhelpful or grossly off-topic.Upvote informative, well sourced answers.New to /r/AskHistorians? Please read our subreddit rules and FAQ before posting! Apply for Flair
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